16 Seconds to Save a Species

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It takes just 16 seconds to save the world's most endangered baobab!

There are 8 species of baobab globally, of which 6 survive in Madagascar; and Madagascar alone. One of these is the Perrier's Baobab (Adansonia perrieri), of which initial surveys found just 99 surviving in the wild. Subsequent surveys identified around 200; but still, this is a serious concern because not one sapling was found amongst these.

The problem Perrier's Baobab seems to face is that all of its germinators are already extinct. These are likely to have included 3 metre tall Elephant Birds; and sloth lemurs the size of a female gorilla. They probably ingested Perrier's seeds whole and deposited them with dung, perfect to help the tree make a start in life. Animals are still attracted to Perrier's Baobab fruit, but they are small and damage the seeds.

Aqua-Firma's conservation charity partner in Madagascar, Voakajy, tried many ways to encourage seeds to germinate, safely away from animals which might damage them. Just planting them did nothing; but miraculously it was discovered that if they are placed into boiling water for 16 second, their germination rates is 90%.

Now that we know this, Aqua-Firma is funding a nursery where we will try to germinate around 12,700 seeds. If we can achieve a 90% germination rate, that will give us 10,500 seedlings to bring this species back to life across large areas of landscape it should be flourishing in.

avenue of baobabs madagascar
The famous Avenue of Baoababs in Madagascar where we find a different species: Grandidier's Baobab (Adansinia gradidieri)

This project is part of Aqua-Firma's Rainforest4Climate programme, by which we address carbon emissions of our client's travel. Other Rainforest4Climate projects in Madagascar have focused on saving one of the world's rarest frogs: the Golden Mantella - thought in the 1980s to already be extinct; and lemurs which include the Indri, Diademed Sifaka and Black & White Ruffed Lemur.

To see these spaces and projects in action in Madagascar, please visit https://www.aqua-firma.com/destinations/madagascar

Written by Ralph Pannell, a director of Aqua-Firma and formerly of the charity Rainforest Concern. Ralph is a frequent host on small group trips to destinations which include Madagascar, Brazil, the Galapagos, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Botswana and Tanzania.